Automatic illumination circuit

Abstract

An automatic illumination circuit (36) coupled to an ignition switch (14) of an automotive vehicle and to at least one light switch (24) therein. The circuit (36) continuously energizes at least one light (22) when a source of electrical energy (10) such as an alternator supplies electrical energy to the circuit (36) and the ignition switch (14) is in a first operating state for rendering the engine of the vehicle operable. At least one light (22) is automatically illuminated whenever the engine is running, regardless of the time of day or night, regardless of whether the vehicle is in motion, and regardless of whether the operator remembers to activate the light switch (24).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In an automotive vehicle having a source of electrical energy, an ignition system including an ignition switch coupled to the source, the ignition switch being operable in a first operating state for rendering the engine operable, a lighting system adapted to be energized by the source, the lighting system including at least one light selected from the group consisting of at least one light, at least one park light and at least one illuminated sign, and at least one light switch coupled to the source for energizing the at least one light; an automatic illumination circuit including a single relay control mechanism, said circuit coupled to the ignition switch and in parallel with the at least one light switch for continuously energizing the at least one light when the ignition switch is in the first operating state and the source supplies electrical energy to the automatic illumination circuit, the automatic illumination circuit further including a first pair of normally open points connected to the relay control mechanism including a relay coil, and a resistor coupled between the relay control mechanism and a pair of normally open points, the resistor decreasing the current flowing to the relay control mechanism, the relay control mechanism becoming energized and closing the first pair of normally open points when sufficient current is delivered to the relay coil, thereby delivering electrical current to the at least one light.   
     
     
       2. The automatic illumination circuit of claim 1, further including a jumper coupled between the resistor and the first pair of normally open points, and means for grounding for completing the circuit between the source, the ignition switch, the resistor, and the relay control mechanism when the first pair of normally open points are closed. 
     
     
       3. The automatic illumination circuit of claim 2, further including at least one pair of normally open points coupled between the resistor and the at least one light switch, each pair of normally open points being closed only when the potential difference therebetween exceeds a minimum value. 
     
     
       4. The automatic illumination circuit of claim 3, further including a common connection point between the ignition switch, one of the at least one pair of normally open points, and the resistor. 
     
     
       5. The automatic illumination circuit of claim 1, further including: a resistor for decreasing the current flowing through the circuit, a relay control mechanism coupled to the resistor which becomes energized when sufficient current is delivered thereto;   means for grounding coupled to the relay control mechanism;   a first pair of normally open points coupled to the ignition switch, to the relay control mechanism, and to the at least one light switch;   a common connection point between the first pair of normally open points and the resistor; and   a second pair of normally open points coupled to the common connection point, to the relay control mechanism and to another light switch,   whereby the at least one light is automatically and continuously energized for safety and display of the vehicle without action by an operator of the vehicle, regardless of whether the vehicle is in motion.   
     
     
       6. In an automotive vehicle having an engine, a driving transmission system, an ignition switch which is selectively movable to a closed setting for rendering the engine operable, a lighting system including at least one light and at least one light switch for energizing the at least one light, and a source of electrical energy including an engine-driven alternator and a battery for energizing the ignition switch and the lighting system; a method for automatically energizing the at least one light for safety and display of the vehicle whenever the ignition switch is closed, regardless of whether the vehicle is in motion, the method comprising the steps of:   conducting electrical energy to an automatic illumination circuit from the ignition switch; and   supplying electrical energy to a resistor within the automatic illumination circuit, a single relay control mechanism, a plurality of pairs of normally open points and means for grounding, so that at least one light is energized whenever the source supplies more than a predetermined voltage to the circuit, regardless of the position selected for the driving transmission system, regardless of the setting selected for the at least one light switch, and regardless of the time of day or night.   
     
     
       7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of supplying electrical energy to the relay control mechanism comprises the steps of: delivering a resting voltage from the battery to the resistor, the resting voltage being insufficient to energize the relay control mechanism or to either pair of normally open points;   augmenting the electrical energy delivered by the battery with energy supplied by the engine-driven alternator so that current passes through the relay control mechanism in an amount sufficient to energize the relay control mechanism, and to the means for grounding, thereby closing the pairs of normally open points; and   completing the passage of electrical energy from the relay control mechanism to the at least one light.   
     
     
       8. The automatic illumination circuit of any of claims 2-5 wherein the resistor is selected so that when the source delivers less than about 13.2 volts, the relay control mechanism is not energized, and the at least one light is not automatically energized by the illumination circuit. 
     
     
       9. The automatic illumination circuit of claim 8, wherein the resistor selected is rated at about 100 ohms and about 0.5 watts. 
     
     
       10. The automatic illumination circuit of claim 8, wherein the relay coil is selectable. 
     
     
       11. The automatic illumination circuit of claim 10, wherein the relay coil of the relay control mechanism is selected so that when the voltage rises to about 12.8-13.2 volts and the relay coil is energized, at least one pair of the pairs of normally open points closes and the at least one light is automatically illuminated. 
     
     
       12. The automatic illumination circuit of claim 1, wherein the at least one light includes at least one illuminated sign attached to the vehicle. 
     
     
       13. In an automotive vehicle having such conventional features as an engine, a driving transmission system including a plurality of selectable positions, a source of electrical energy, an ignition system conductably energized from the source through an ignition switch, the ignition switch having a first and second end terminal, the ignition switch being selectably movable to a closed setting for entering the engine operable, a lighting system adapted to be energized by the source, the lighting system including at least one light and a light switch having a first end terminal connected to the source of electrical energy for energizing head lights and park lights, the light switch also including a head light terminal connected to the head lights, and a park light terminal connected to the park lights, and a high-low beam head light switch connected to the head light terminal, an automatic illumination circuit connected to the second end terminal of the ignition switch and to the head light and the park light terminals of the light switch for energizing the at least one light whenever the source applied electrical energy to the ignition system after the ignition switch is moved to a closed setting, regardless of the position selected for the driving transmission system, regardless of the setting selected for the light switch and the high-low beam head light switch, and regardless of the time of day or night,   the circuit further including:   a relay control mechanism coupled to the ignition switch;   a resistor coupled to the relay control mechanism, the resistor having a second end node, the relay control mechanism having a first end terminal connected to the second end node of the resistor, and a second end terminal;   means for grounding connected to the second end terminal of the relay control mechanism;   a first pair of normally open points having a first pole and a second pole, the second connectable to the head light terminal of the light switch;   a second pair of normally open points having a first pole and a second pole, the second pole connectable to the park light terminal of the light switch;   a common connection point being adapted for connecting the first pole of the first pair of normally open points, the first pole of the second pair of normally open points, the first end node of the resistor and a second end terminal of the ignition switch; and   a fuse interposed between the second end terminal of the ignition switch and the common connection point,   whereby the at least one light is automatically energized for safety and display of the vehicle without further action of an operator of the vehicle after the ignition is moved to the closed setting, regardless of whether the vehicle is in motion.